Wizard of Elements

by Calista Lambrechts

  We said our goodbyes and soon Donald left. I suspiciously looked around to see if there wasn’t anyone stalking me. You know, just in case those bounty hunters decided to take a wrong turn to Suntaria... I took a deep breath and dashed for the library. So now and then I’d look behind my shoulder to see if there wasn’t anyone following me. I might have seemed a little bit suspicious myself…

  With haste I finally reached the local library. It was quite large with statues of lions on either side of the door, acting as protectorates of the centuries old information it contained inside.

  The whole library was of cream marble, two large thick columns keeping the library canopy in place.

  I noticed Terrowin to be impatiently waiting outside, leaning against one of the columns, eyes wandering at the rest of the city in front of his eyes.

  As I came close, he opened his mouth to say something, but I quickly cut him short before he could question me.

  “Come on let’s go.” I grabbed his arm and rapidly pulled him inside, thus not giving him the chance to ask.

  The moment we were inside, I closed the giant door behind us and gave a sigh of relief.

  “Uh…” I shot him a warning look. “Not a word.”

  He shrugged and decided not to argue. We walked down the hall and came across a massive room. Rows of bookcases filled the room at every turn, creating a labyrinth, stacked with all kinds of book, both small and big, thick and thin, odd and eccentric, normal and dull… The floor was covered with a red carpet, thusly giving a somewhat contented effect.

  A few wooden tables and chairs stood about on various places for the readers’ comfort.

  In the far a large desk stood near the wall. A wrinkly old lady sat at that desk, busy reading some sort of book. She looked completely engrossed. She wore your typical rounded glasses and had a rather pointy nose. Her hair was textures of grey and white, all tied up into a bon with a pencil resting behind her ear. She really didn’t look welcoming.

  She looked even scarier than hostile if I had to make a direct comparison.

  We both cautiously entered, not daring to make any sudden noises. She might just hush us to death.

  Terrowin and I sneaked pass and made our way to one of the far shelves. We twisted and turned through the maze of bookcases. The room was dimly lit and shadows crept from the nooks and crannies, seeping out of the small spaces between the scrunched up books. It felt like a dungeon… a nice and comfortable dungeon.

  There’s no way anyone could make it out alive without a map. I actually saw a skeleton of a long lost man with an old library book in his hand somewhere nearby, sitting despairingly on the ground.

  I searched every single shelf on the bookcases surrounding us in search of a certain book that might explain what I was aching to know.

  I climbed a ladder and searched the top shelves. I crouched down and searched through the bottom shelves, but still no luck. I sighed and buried my hands in my hair, quite frustrated. I grunted.

  Terrowin stepped closer.

  “What are you searching for? Perhaps I can help.” I puffed my cheeks, blew and kept staring at him, doubting he would have better luck than me.

  “Anything that can tell me about a woman named Bliss.” He laughed quietly to himself and shook his head.

  “And what, might I ask, is so funny?”

  He didn’t answer, only took action.

  He climbed the ladder to one of the middle shelves and grabbed a large book, a hardcover, with a decorative and expensive-looking leather casing. He pulled it out of place and slid down the ladder. Using his one foot, he stopped himself on the bottom step and hopped off.

  He threw me the book. I acted fast and successfully caught it, but it must’ve been one of the heaviest books I have ever had the pleasure of holding in my own two hands... Goodness gracious.

  I studied the cover as I slammed it down on a nearby table. It was adorned by decorative golden linings and patterns.

  The title read: The Book of Bliss.

  “If you wanted to know about her, you only could’ve askede,” said Terrowin kindly.

  I kept a nonchalant gaze fixated on him, supporting a moment of awkward silence.

  “Nope. I want her whole history.” I sat down at the table, scooting in closer.

  I threw the book open at some random spot. Terrowin soon joined me and sat down, looking quite appreciative at the chance to rest his arm.

  He leaned in closer, his expression met with a frown as his eyes looked at the pages.

  “Why are you suddenly so interested in her? Is it because of the shrine?”

  I thought about the answer I was about to give. I needed to carefully choose my words… “Yep.”

  I started scrolling through the pages and searched for something useful, something about her daughter...

  A notion suddenly hit me and I frowned.

  “Wait, what did you mean by ‘I only needed to ask’?” Terrowin sat back into his chair like he usually did.

  “Well, my father used to tell me her legend as one of my bedtime stories when I was little.”

  “Really? Then she must’ve existed centuries ago if her story became a legend...”

  With a heavy sigh, I sat back and folded my arms across my chest, quite put down and disappointed.

  “Oh, no, she’s only been dead for about fourteen years.” I raised an eyebrow.

  There’s still hope for me!

  “Then why does everyone act as though she’s such a big hero, huh?”

  “For all the many wondrous things she has done in her time, and partially because of who she was... Anyway, she has done the kingdom great. She has even done the king himself a great service once.”

  I wasn’t even going to ask, but now that I recall, lots of men did tell stories about her at the Sleeping Dragon’s Inn… Why didn’t I listen?

  I shot a glance at that old librarian through the crack between two bookcases and noticed her to be staring menacingly at us. I bit down on my lower lip and focused my gaze on Terrowin, whispering, “Let’s just lower the tone a bit, okay? Or else prune-face over there might get the wrong idea.”

  I shot her another look, but saw her reading that book of hers once again. I smiled with relief, but noticed another man sitting at a nearby table. He wore a black fedora a long fancy brown overcoat. He read a newspaper, its weathered pages masking his identity. I kept an eye on him, until he slightly lowered the newspaper, revealing only those dark emerald green eyes of his, looking right at me.

  I quickly looked away, acting natural. I failed to fight a gulp. Either it was my paranoia, or everyone had it in for me… I… Why does everyone want me dead all of a sudden? Mostly referring to that librarian… She must’ve been the heart of all evil…

  “Let’s just hurry this up shall we? I don’t trust this library.”

  Terrowin tilted his head.

  “But you were the one who wanted to-” “Let’s just hurry, okay?” He shrugged and agreed to my appeal.

  I paged through the book and came across one specific page that read about her leaving her child in Hadrian. I quickly scanned through it.

  “Is this true?” I pointed at the page. Terrowin took the book and slid it over to him and quickly read it.

  “Yes, it is true.”

  “And how would you know?”

  “Because my father witnessed it himself.”

  My eyes narrowed. I was suddenly very interested in what he had to say… I leaned in closer, even though Cassius had already told me some of it… I now had a different perspective. I now had an actual witness… “Please do tell.”

  Nothing but a trip down memory lane.

  “My father told it to me once and only once, no more. He said it was a dark night in Hadrian. He was one of the six knights personally chosen by the king himself. They were patrolling the streets on their horses like usual, but for some strange reason he had an uneasy feeling about that night.
Something about the other five knights was somehow… off. Their eyes weren’t quite normal. Instead of taking the usual route, they took another, without my father approving of it. He tried to stop them, asking them to why, but they just pushed him aside, leaving him without an answer. He was suspicious and had little choice at the matter but to follow them...”

  Terrowin paused for a moment, soon to continue.

  “They made a stop at one of the houses, just in time for a panicked woman to burst out the door, tightly clinging to a young child, sword to protect her. The knights demanded the woman to give them her child, but she denied and escaped. My father was shocked by his companions’ sudden behaviour and had no choice but to follow, curious to see what they’ll do. The woman hid her child somewhere savfe nearby and bravely made her appearance, only to be slaughtered by the other five knights. My father knew that something wasn’t right and dashed forward, trying to stop them, but in the attempt, they injured him badly with a sword piercing his stomach. Yet, it didn’t stop him from preventing the wrong. Weakly, he fought his own allies to the death. Soon enough four were dead, but one was still standing. Unfortunately my father was too weak and collapsed to the cobblestone due to blood loss. As the fifth knight raised his sword to strike, another blade thrust into his chest and he was sent to collapse into a heap.

  “By my father’s surprise, it was the king himself who had saved him. He told my father that he too had a terrible feeling about that night, a previous night’s nightmare, and rushed to Hadrian the soon as he could. He saved my father’s life by taking him back to Hayley, healing him, letting him rest in the castle… and for that I am truly grateful. My father was awarded the highest honour of bravery and status due to his courage… My father was able to fight against the will of evil in times of direness, even if it meant taking the life of his closest companions… The king and the royal court gave him the rank of captain of the guard, the commander of the knights. My father always fails to disappoint the king and takes his duties very seriously. Yet… from that one faithful night on, he had lost the will to trust anyone ever again. He only trusts his three closest men, Thomason, Cassius and Althalos. To be honest… I don’t even think he trusts me.”

  Terrowin laughed but faintly at his own words. He might have masked it, but I knew very well that it was something that gnawed at him...

  “Unfortunately, he has never heard or seen any sight of that poor child ever again. He tried searching for her. He scoured numerous parts of the land in the attempt, but he gave up after the third year, residing to the worst.”

  How to respond to a story like that… I do not know.

  I merely swallowed.

  “That’s quite some story,” I finally admitted.

  He cleared his throat, “History.”

  I waved it away and gave a smile.

  “Ah, whatever.”

  A thought suddenly occurred to me and by pure curiosity I asked, “What’s Bliss’ child’s name?”

  “No one knows for sure. It is said that the name of her child was lost within history. Only one man still knows, though.”

  My eyes widened and I was dying to know who could hold the answer to my question that might just change everything.

  My heart was nearly racing, throbbing against my ribcage, pleading and screaming to know.

  “Who?”

  “Her husband.”

  Husband? It never occurred to me before. I didn’t think of it, how could I have been so unwise? Yet… husband? Husband! If Bliss was truly my mother… then that meant that I had, or have a father… a dad.

  I could barely hold on to my breath. My heart lurched and I felt my throat tighten. My lips started to quiver involuntarily and I couldn’t help but clench my fist.

  My heart was aching.

  I had never been so urgent to ask anything in my entire life.

  “Who is her husband? Is he still alive?”

  My eyes glistened, my eyebrows knitted.

  “Uh… yes. Yes, he is. She was happily married to a man – a man who lived through years of great depression when she was killed… Cassius.”

  I froze. There was no breath in my lungs. My mouth kept a gape, my hands met with an unwilling shudder.

  C-Cassius… Cassius? I…

  A tear left my eye and rolled down my cheek.

  Cassius…

  I was close to breaking, but I tried to keep it in. My heart pained, cramping up and pushing up my throat.

  My eyes were locked with Terrowin’s, so long that he might have thought that my mind has gone vacant. He wasn’t an idiot… despite me so constantly calling him that. He noticed well enough the emotions I tried to hide.

  “Uh…” Terrowin cocked his head. “You alright?”

  I didn’t answer. I couldn’t answer.

  “Um…”

  “Carlaylin. Still there?” Painstakingly, he waved a hand in front of my face, but I showed no response.

  He sighed, almost sympathetic toward me.

  At last I could feel myself able to move again as I brought a hand to my mouth, a few tears running across my fingers.

  “Cassius?” I stuttered, my voice soft.

  “Yeah...”

  “One… One of my parents is alive…”

  Terrowin was quickly brought to full realization. His eyes widened at the assurance I made about his guess... He exhaled sharply.

  In the distance, I overheard a door being broken open with one hell of a crash

  “My father is Cassius.”

  I heard as men in rattling heavy armour rushed into the library. It wasn’t long before someone grabbed me by my arms. I was lifted from my chair like it took no effort at all.

  I was snapped out of my daze, eyes broadened.

  Terrowin shot out of his chair in alert.

  That snapped me out of my daze and I finally caught up with reality. I kicked and struggled to get free, but it was of no use.

  At first I thought it to be the bounty hunters sent from Thorodan, here to capture me for a quick profit, but I shortly noticed them to be the Suntarian guards. There were quite a few of them surrounding us. I yelped.

  This is probably not good at all...

  “What’s the meaning of this?!” I called as I refused to stay put. The two guards holding me captive had grips of iron that burned into my arm.

  “In the name of Tarauntis, let me go!”

  “Uh, Tarauntis?” Terrowin asked.

  “What? You’ve got your sayings and I’ve got mine.”

  “You are under arrest,” bellowed one of the guards.

  “I didn’t wreck his inn or steal his freaking mug! It’s still on the damned street outside! If only he’d care to lift that ass of his and look!”

  There was a silence left adrift, confused expressions sparking up on all the guards’ faces. I sighed.

  “This has nothing to do with that Thorodan incident, has it?”

  Some of the guards shook their heads and ignored my accidental giveaway.

  I had to change the subject straightaway for my own safety and started kicking at the air in front of me again, struggling to get free.

  “Terrowin, help me!”

  He responded at an instant and dashed forward, but alas, was pulled back by one of the guards. The guard kept his good arm locked in a tight grip.

  “Under what charges?!”

  “You are under arrest for murdering an innocent civilian on the streets of Suntaria and for robbing a poor merchant blind when unaware.”

  I gasped.

  “WHAT? That’s absurd! I’d never do anything like that! I’m innocent!”

  The guard tightened his grip. I must admit that it was starting to hurt... I nervously gritted my teeth.

  Trust me, there’s nothing worse than being accused of something you didn’t do. Punishments are always longer and more severe than those that have actually done it... Cruel life!

  “That’s w
hat they all say.”

  “I promise you, she’s telling the truth. I’ve been with her this whole time and I assure you that she did no such things.”

  One of the guards withdrew his sword and held its blade firmly against Terrowin’s throat.

  Terrowin swallowed, widened eyes intently focused on the sharp blade.

  “Quiet you! She hasn’t been with you all the time, now has she?”

  The guard sheathed his sword. Terrowin’s expression turned grim and he dropped his gaze, trying to thoroughly think this through.

  He must’ve recalled earlier when I told him that I’d meet him here in a moment...

  That was the only time he had lost sight of me. I knew those Suntarian bastards were spying on us!

  His eyes met mine, silently questioning me about what happened. My eyes widened with fear at the horrible thought that he was actually starting to doubt me.

  “No... No, Terrowin, I didn’t do anything like that. Promise!”

  My whole body was shaking by now. I didn’t know what to expect.

  Terrowin couldn’t help but look away, unable to meet my eyes as mixed emotions most likely poured into that mind of his.

  “Well, boy…?” the guard asked, hoping for an immediate answer.

  “I… I don’t know…”

  Like some sort of mind controlling parasite, the guard keeping Terrowin captive, rested a hand on his shoulder and sneered deviously.

  My mouth fell open.

  “How can’t you believe me?” I said, my voice almost leaving me.

  I was stunned, but my mind trailed back. Perhaps I might have been a bit suspicious over the last hour after that talk with Donald...

  Curse you Carlaylin!

  “I-” Terrowin couldn’t find his words and decided to stay quiet for the time being. He tried shaking it away, obviously avoiding to answer a similar question.

  Instead, he asked, “Where are you taking her?”

  “Why should we tell you?” a guard spat.

  “It is my right as citizen to know.”

  “She’s being taken to the mines where she’ll be working for the rest of her miserable life since, as you can see, proper dungeons aren’t in Suntaria’s possession.”